Scottish executive backs £10m system

The Scottish executive has denied claims that a £10m project
to link up electronic social services and NHS records is on the
point of being scrapped.

Scottish ministers are considering a report from accountants KPMG
that evaluates the business case for the eCare project to set up a
computer records system that can be shared by health and social
services.

“There has been no decision to cancel the eCare programme in March
or the foreseeable future,” a spokesperson for the executive said
in response to media claims.

She added that the executive had already established that data
could be securely shared between the NHS and social services,
electronic referrals could be made and data could be accessed from
remote locations.

Local authorities, which are part-funding the project, also
expressed their backing.

“The potential is huge, which is why councils have bought into
this,” said a spokesperson for the Convention of Scottish Local
Authorities. “Experience shows that record-sharing among agencies
is an essential part of integrated service delivery.”